Fires involving insulation materials
In case of fire, the choice of insulation material can become a vital issue in terms of casualties, material or environmental damage. Rockwool insulation is non-combustible and withstands more than 1000°C. It can act as a fire barrier. Combustible insulation on the other hand can fuel the fire and cause it to spread. Some of the most widely used combustible insulation materials are oil-based foamed plastics (eg. polystyrene, polyurethane or polyisocyanurate) and organic materials (eg. shredded paper/cellulose).
Firesafe Rockwool stone wool helps to stop fires
Rockwool insulation saves timber house on fire. Oslo, Norway, 1995
30 minutes of intense fire in the kitchen. Luckily, the firesafe Rockwool insulation in walls and roof prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the timber house. The Norwegian family managed to escape from the flames. Without the insulation, the house would have been destroyed by the fire', says chief engineer Tore Aarnes from Uni Storebrand insurance company.
The cause of the fire was an unattended, over-heated hot plate on the kitchen stove.
(Source: Energi & Miljø, No. 6, 1995)
Firesafe Rockwool roof insulation as a guardian angel
Holland, 11 May 1998
The Distribution Centre T.C.G. Veenendaal was under completion when sparks from construction works landed on the roof, igniting bitumen, polyester parts and the cabinets of the air-conditioning system. Mr J. Bouman, deputy commander of the Veenendaal municipal fire brigade, explains why his men managed to save the 7,000 m2 large building, reducing the damage to 180 m2 roof and NLG 130,000:
'The real guardian angel was the incombustible Rockwool roof insulation, which did not contribute in any way to the spread of the fire.In my 25-year long career I have seen several buildings burn down to the ground, because the fire became uncontrolable as a consequence of combustible insulation. If combustible insulation had been used in the roofs of this building complex, the fire might easily have spread under the roofing as a kind of moorland fire. Then at least 7,000 m2 of roofing would have gone up in flames. The fire could also have spread inward.', J. Bouman says.
'The Building Regulations do not yet exclude combustible insulation [.] though it contributes enormously to the spread of fire', J. Bouman regrets.
(Source: Roofing Holland)
Year 2000 safe - Rockwool insulation saves burning block of flats
Denmark, 1 January 2000
40 centimetres of firesafe Rockwool insulation prevented a dramatic roof fire from spreading to the flats below. The fire in Copenhagen started on New Year's Eve when a rocket exploded and set the roof on fire. 100 people had to be evacuated. The fire was extinguished after four hours.
(Source: Østerbro Avis, 5 January 2000)
Firesafe Rockwool insulation saves old, thatched house on fire
Denmark, 6 June 1998
Thatched houses are an important part of Danish cultural heritage and building tradition. Yet, their highly combustible straw roofs can burn down completely in less than 30 minutes. A family in Snoldelev, near Roskilde, prevented this. They had installed firesafe Rockwool insulation and gipsum boards under their straw roof.
'I am certain that this thatched house would have burnt down to the ground, if it had not been fire protected,' says fire officer John Dibbern from Roskilde fire brigade.
(Source: Lokalavisen Roskilde, 6 June 1998)
Rockwool stone wool stops chicken farm fire
Brovst, Denmark, September 1998
Firesafe Rockwool insulation prevented a chicken farm in Brovst, Denmark, from completely burning down to the ground. The fire razed the two oldest sections of the chicken farm that had been insulated with expanded polystyrene. The new section, however, had been insulated with firesafe Rockwool stone wool, which acted as a fire barrier that prevented further spread of the fire.
(Source: Landbrug Fyn, 21 September 1998)
Stone wool saves greenhouse water supply
Jönköping, Sweden, 1999
With flames 40 metres high from the adjacent burning barn, the owners of Nyström's Nursery in Swedish Jönköping feared for their fragile plants and their buildings just next to the blaze. The fire got hold of the wooden panels, yet the stone wool insulation prevented the fire from spreading into and destroying the 'heart' of the nursery, the water pumping house. The vital water supply was immediately reestablished as soon as a new electrical wire had been installed.
Rockwool insulation saves church on fire
Thick Rockwool insulation saved Ausnes Church in Norway from the flames.
The fire was caused by repair works at the church.
(Source: Sunnmørsposten, Norway)
